Krups espresso machine product review.

Saving a buck or two on a cup of coffee doesn’t really seem like a lot of money until you add it up over time. Silke and I have been looking at espresso machines for quite some time now. The only thing that was holding us back was whether we would actually use the Krups espresso machine.

Everyone was on the Keurig craze awhile ago and we could only imagine the novelty wearing off. I could see it being shoved into the pantry next to the bread maker that we would never use. We had dodged all the other must-have kitchen gadget so far, but there was always a lingering thought:

What if the espresso machine worked and we actually used it?

Resistance was futile and once we found the Krups espresso machine

it came home for the true test.

The Krups XP1000 is smaller than our regular coffee machine and blends in nicely with all of our kitchen appliances. We wanted to have enough room to be able to operate it so we gave it plenty of space. You will need to be able to get in and around the espresso machine while operating it so you can easily use the selector knob on the side as well as the frothing wand.

Once the Krups espresso machine was all set up

we were eager to get it running.

The directions read like stereo instructions but in combination with the diagrams we figured out that they wanted us to froth first and then make the espresso. This seemed backwards to me but I don’t really think I paid that much attention while at the coffee shops. Usually you order your coffee and then step back and wait so someone else can be waited on. I stuck to the book.

The frothing nozzle is a little short and awkward to use with a regular cup so we got this nice small orange ceramic pitcher which works perfectly with the Krups espresso machine. With the milk frothed you then reach over and turn the knob to espresso which is detailed with a picture of a cup on the position.

The Krups espresso machine seemed awkward for me, here is why:

• Number one, I’m left handed so I would switch hand with the little pitcher that I was frothing and reach over to turn the knob.
• Number two, the knob isn’t that easy to turn, so you really have to fiddle around with it.

The water is ready to go at this point so the second you get the knob into the espresso position it takes right off. It doesn’t take long at all and you’re ready to go.

With a spoonful of vanilla in the bottom of our glasses, I poured the espresso into the cups and then topped them off with the froth. I stepped back and marveled at my accomplishment. They looked just like the ones that I got at the coffee shops and I had somehow pulled it off.

The Vanilla Latte taste test!

We used a light roast ground coffee and vanilla flavoring so it looks a little light in color. If you use a dark roast ground coffee your latte will turn out darker, although the caffeine level will stay the same.

I didn’t stir the ingredients at all and let the hot liquid do all the work. It tasted just as good as the high priced Vanilla Latte’s we get at the coffee shop. Best of all, we hadn’t even left the comforts of our own home! It was a success and a bargain for what we had paid for the Krups espresso machine.

The last word about the Krups espresso machine.

This is a fairly inexpensive espresso machine model and the old adage that ‘you get what you pay for’ does come into play. On the flip side it does exactly what it is intended to do, so I really can’t complain.

We’ve seen other models since our purchase and noticed that for a little bit more money we would have eliminated the whole knob turning adventure. Going up from there and we would have had little decorative tops for our cups that you could use to add a chocolate design. Oh well, they all taste the same no matter how you dress them up.

Shop For Espresso Machines

We got what we paid for and I’m happy with that. We have been enjoying perfect Vanilla Lattes every afternoon since we bought our Krups Espresso Machine. As far as our reservations about buying it in the first place goes, you’ll have to ask me in a year where the thing is. If I give you a ‘deer in the headlights look’ you can bet the house it’s collecting dust in the pantry next to that imaginary bread machine.

2017 Krups Espresso Machine Update:

This small espresso machine by Krups is still one of our best purchases. We used it right up until the day we moved to Hawai’i in the Spring of 2016 for our care taking position. The machine is packed away in a storage unit right now. You can bet your bottom dollar it is going to be one of the first items we will unpack and use once we get back into our own home.

We have recouped the expense of this espresso machine many times over. I only wish we had brought the Krups espresso machine with us!

Do you have a favorite hot coffee drink? Leave us a comment below, we would love to hear from you.